Boston United 1-2 Eastleigh (National League)
Boston United have only once before played against Eastleigh. Earlier this season when optimism was high, the newly promoted Pilgrims led on the road against the ten men Spitfires through a first half Sam Osborne goal, only to concede a 95th minute penalty converted by Chris Maguire which resulted in a 1-1 draw.
The Hampshire based outfit are making the 360 mile round trip today along with 40 fans as they bid to push themselves towards the playoff places from their comfortable mid table slot. Boston beat Fylde last week and are still hopeful of making up a nine point gap for a chance of safety but lose this, they know things will be incredibly tough to survive the much expected inevitable drop back down to the North.
I'm on the road at 12:30, the Mrs late back from shopping and a spot of road works on the A52 has me pushing for time to ensure I arrive an hour before KO. I'm through Grantham where I overtake a learner to notice a parked Police van with a speed gun on my right. Another f*cking speed awareness course now pending.
I'm fuming for being caught on a clear country road with nothing around, set up by a deliberately delaying driving instructor and some slow to death hill trudging and a hidden cop with his pants probably around his ankles after catching me. "Haven't they got real crooks to catch" is my cry.
The Venue
Finally calmed down, arrived and parked up, I'm inside the stadium with plenty of time ahead, where I watch a few minutes of Everton v Man Utd on the big screen in the concourse whilst stirring some milk into a cup of tea I've just brought alongside a kit kat and packet of fruit pastels.
Up to the media area the weather is lush, blue skies has the pitch glow bright green, it's always in cracking condition here in Boston, the grounds team certainly do their jobs well.
The three sided arena is in healthy spirits ahead of the match, predictions within the media circles are for a tight game and a tough test for Boston, Eastleigh having won their last two would no doubt fancy their chances of taking all three points back south.
The Game
Boston have set up to not get beat, new signing Brad Nicholson returns after half a season on Scunthorpe's bench, he's left back, traditionally a centre half he has Cam Green ahead of him who can also play left back, a midfield is workmanlike and unimaginative with the legs of Hill and Maguire sitting as subs, Hazel and Knowles up front hardly get any service, it's niggly, stop start, perhaps the way Boston wants it? The Pilgrims using the long throw of Nicholson at every attempt, issue is he keeps throwing it to McDonnell in the Eastleigh goal.
There's nothing in the first half, the Referee is finicky and there's hardly any flow, but the away side get in down the right on 38, it's the first time they've really penetrated Boston's defence, the ball falling back to Jake Taylor inside the area, he scuffs one goalwards and into the corner to open the score.
Eastleigh should double their advantage before half time, steeling the ball when Woods is caught sloppily in possession, Boutin is set through but his shot is saved by Gregory, the French winger opting for the near post when he had the whole of the goal to aim for.
The Score
You feel Boston are happiest to get into the break and reset as we discuss the possibilities of changes, one of which you feel is adamant, Martin Woods in midfield who's been a passenger, now 39, he needs legs around him and has really shown his age today, but he's left on as Graham Coughlan miraculously makes four other changes at the break, a message to his team that the first half wasn't good enough.
And Boston do start the second half much better, a succession of corners has them in the hunt, but things filter out and on 77 Tyrese Shade dances through their defence.
It's a brilliant goal as the left footer cuts in from the right and skips past three or four amber shirts before blasting home a beauty.
Shade then stands in front of the Boston supporters, arms aloft, no reaction, as most perhaps prefer to nod in appreciation of his fine work. The difference on the day is how clinical Eastleigh are in attack.
You feel that's it, but Boston do have spirit within them under Coughlan, they win a free kick on 90 and Maguire floats in to Connor Teale who heads home, that suddenly springs Boston into gear again as six minutes extra are hosted up on a board by the fourth official, but despite Boston pushing, they in the end run out of time.
The final whistle see's a young boy no older than ten who had earlier booted a ball kicked out onto the pitch, he's running around now on the pitch with stewards chasing him, pulling faces one finally catches him and doesn't let go, as we head for the exits we're all in agreement that he's ran more than most of Boston's midfielders today, and that was perhaps the best of the action on show.
The Stars
Not to be undone, Tyrese Shade's moment of magic was for me a better watch than some kid being a prat with his parents nowhere to be seen, his goal, brilliantly taken, topped an afternoon's good work, always a threat out wide he's now 24, having spells previously with Leicester, Walsall, Swindon and Solihull, perhaps now playing his best football at Eastleigh.
Shade was decent out right, as was Boutin on the left, 21-years-old he's on loan from Bournemouth and looks to be one to watch. Ludwig Francillette at the heart of the defence another who shone, with a solid all round performance, leggy and combative, good aerially he had a decent tussle with Jacob Hazel who did well with limited service for Boston, one player worth a mention for Eastleigh, despite not having many shots to save, was goalkeeper Joe McDonnell, not the tallest, but he claimed cross after cross, around seven or eight long throw-ins by Brad Nicholson were claimed by the former AFC Wimbledon man which certainly eased the pressure on his defence, no doubt his manager, Kelvin Davies, a former goalkeeper himself, will be very happy with McDonnell's work.
For Boston, no real stand out stars, Zak Mills again playing centre half is one who always puts a shit in, I really like Connor Teale who goes about his defensive work soundly, both Teale and Mills in for a tough afternoon against 'big' Scott Quigley, often stuck to their tasks well.
The midfield changes at half time allowed Frankie Maguire to again come on and impress me, "he always looks knackered" said a scout next to me, before an inevitable burst of running again, he works his socks off and should be a player at this level, or above, for a few years to come.
Tony Weston also doing well, he's on loan from Derby County, just 21, positive in his play, he's not really taken off at Boston, a largely struggling team, but get good players in and around him and his ball use and energy is often good.
The Verdict
Eastleigh's win takes them to a place outside the playoffs where they are five points behind Altrincham who they beat a couple of weeks back. I have Eastleigh as a 'solid' mid-table National League side which is by no means of disrespect, quite the opposite, I like what they do, I like their spine and experience and I like that they're the type of team that all opponents in the division will respect. Out wide they have players with pace, through the middle they are all up for the fight.
Boston, up for the fight but lacking in height, they feel a little weak for the level, despite having some good players, it feels each game they are still to find the perfect blend, a week before March and the start of spring, that's always a telling tale that a team is just not working. Still, needing a centre half, still, perhaps needing some size and experience in midfield (with legs) and then, we may start to see something of a more settled eleven who can fight to get out of trouble.
The Teams
Boston United: Cameron Gregory, Cameron Green (Adam Marriott 46), Keaton Ward (Tony Weston 46), Jacob Hazel, Martin Woods (James Gale 71), Jai Rowe, Connor Teale, Brad Nicholson, Jimmy Knowles (Frankie Maguire 46), Jordan Richards (Dylan Hill 46), Zak Mills.
Eastleigh: Joe McDonnell, Luis Fernandez, Ludwig Francillette, Jake Taylor ((Jesrum Uchegbulam 65), Tyrese Shade (Connor Underhill 81), Lee Hodson, Angel Waruih, Scott Quigley, Noa Boutin (Corey Panter 88), Ben Close (Lloyd Humphries 59), Niall Maher.
3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 22nd February 2025, Jakemans Stadium, Boston (att 1,832).
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